Chair construction



Nov. 15, 1966 K. A. BEVINGTON 3,285,555

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1966 K. A. BEVINGTON CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1963 United States Patent O 3,285,555 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Kenneth A. Bevington, 2755 Broadway, Evanston, Ill. Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,319 2 Claims. (Cl. 24S-188.7)

This invention relates to a chair construction, andy more specifically to chair structures of the type wherein the seat is adjustable in height relative to the supporting base. More particularly, this invention is directed to chair constructions of the general class intended for use in offices, schools, laboratories and factories, as well as for various miscellaneous purposes.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel chair construction of the character indicated which is of simplified design, composed of relatively few parts, and which requires a relatively small amount of labor, and hence is extremely economical to manufacture and assemble.

Another object is to provide a noved chair construction of the character indicated wherein various of its components are formed from commercial sizes of preformed metallic tubing.

A further object is to provide a novel chair construction of the character indicated wherein the seat may be quickly and easily adjusted vertically to a desired height relative to its supporting base.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are front and side elevational views of the chair embodying the present invention, with the back being shown in dot-and-dash outline, as it forms no part of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in front elevation of the main supporting structure of the chair embodying this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 4 on FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged transverse sectional view taken as `indicated at line 5-5 on FIGURE 3.

' be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5 of the drawings.

Referring now in detail -to the drawings, the chair embodying the present invention comprises a base, including an upstanding supporting tube 10, and a plurality of tubular legs 11, the tubes comprising the legs being rigidly secured at their upper ends, such as by brazing, to the lower portion of said upstanding tube 10, and the supporting legs being suitably bent and formed to constitute feet, as indicated at 12, for resting upon the floor. The lower ends of the feet are each provided with a metallic cap member 14 for closing the lower end of the tubular legs, and -to serve as a sliding support for the chair upon the floor. The upper end portion yof the upstanding tube 10 is formed with an upwardly open, longitudinally or vertically extending slot, as indicated at 15.

Cooperating with the base structure is a seat assembly, including a seat indicated at 18 which may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic, and to the underside of the seat is secured, as by means of rivets 20, a seat bracket support 22. The seat bracket support may be formed as a sheet metal stamping or as a casting. The seat assembly also includes a depending guide tube 24 suitably attached to a seat bracket 22. As shown, the upper end of the depending guide tube 24 is rigidly attached, as by welding or brazing, to the seat bracket support 22. If it is desired, however, that the seat assembly be such as to provide an arrangement for swivelling yof the seat with respect to the base, then, in that event, the depending guide tube 24 may be suitably formed for a swivel support with respect to said seat bracket 22. The depending guide tube is formed with a series of vertically spaced apart openings, as indicated at 26, and said guide tube is dimensioned for a snug, telescopic fit within the upstanding supporting tube 10 of the base.

Surrounding the upper portion of the upstanding tube 10, in registration with the slot 15, is a friction clamping band 30, with the free ends terminating in a pair of spaced apart ears 32. The portion of the band opposite said ears is formed with an inwardly projecting nubbin 34 for seating in an opening 36 formed in the upstanding base tube 10, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings. By virtue of this arrangement the clamping band many be quickly and easily indexed in proper relation to the upper end of the upstanding tube 10, and will thus position the ears 32 on opposite sides of the elongated slot 15. Cooperating with the clamping band is a handle member 38, having a threaded stem portion 40 adapted to extend lthrough the aligned apertures in the ears 32, said stem portion having a ange or shoulder 41 adapted to seat against the outer surface of one of the ears 32. A nut 42 is positioned in threaded engagement on the outer end of said stem portion 40, and adapted to seat against the outer surface of the opposite ear 32, yas mafy Pre erably, the nut 42 is of the multi-sided type, such as square, so that one of its faces may be positioned in close proximity to the friction band 30 to preclude rotation of the nut. Thus, when the handle 38 is turned so that the threaded stern portion is threaded through said nut 42, clamping pressure will be applied against the pair of spaced ears 32, and ywhich in turn will squeeze the upper portion of the upstanding tube 10, tending to close the slot 15 and thereby exert a rm frictional grasp around the depending tube 24 of the seat assembly. By virtue yof this arrangement it is possible to frictionally secure the seat assembly at a predetermined height with respect to the base structure.

To insure against the seat structure moving downwardly relative tothe supporting base, such as when la persons weight is imposed upon the seat, I provide an auxiliary locking member, as may be clearly seen in the drawings, in the nature of a rod 46, bent to provide a loop or eyelet portion 47 for positioning between the pair of spaced ears 32 on the friction band in surrounding relation to the threaded stem portion 40, and Ihaving a free end portion 48 which, when the locking member is rotated about the threaded stem 40, may then be inserted into one `of the openings 26 in the depending tube 24, as clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 ofthe drawings.

In the use of an auxiliary locking member, it is preferable that the seat structure be adjusted to approximately the `desired vertical height with respect to the supporting base, and the auxiliary locking member then moved into registration with the nearest aligned aperture 26. At this time preferably the friction band 30 should be slightly loose so as to permit the seat structure to telescope downwardly until the guide tube 24 with the auxiliary locking member 48 is in one of the apertures 26, and until said terminal portion 48 of the auxiliary locking member abuts against the upper end of the upstanding tube 10, as clearly seen in FIGURE 4. At that time the friction band may be rmly tightened so as to insure that the seat structure is firmly supported in a desired height with respect to the base structure or floor.

It will be apparent that the seat may be quickly and easily adjusted vertically with respect to the base structure. Such adjustment is attained merely by turning the handle 38 associated with the clamping band so as to relieve the friction grip or clamping relation between the tubes 10 and 24; and then by removing the auxiliary locking member 46 from operative position with respect to tube 24, the seat assembly may then be forced up or down with respect to the base structure. After the seat is adjusted at the proper or desired position, the auxiliary locking member is moved into operative relation to the nearest opening 26 in the depending tube 24, and the seat is adjusted so that the terminal portion 48 of the locking member again rests upon the upper end of the upstanding tube 10, after which the handle 38 is turned so as to cause the friction band to rmly compress the upper portion of the tube into tight squeezing engagement with the depending tube 24.

The tu-bular members comprising the legs 11, the supporting tubes 10, and the guide tube 24, may'be formed of standard, prefabricated metallic tubing for purposes of economy in manufacture. By virtue of the chain structure herein disclosed, it will be apparent that it is cornposed of relatively few parts, making it possible to manufacture and assemble the chair structure with a minimum amount of labor, and hence is extremely economical to produce.

Although I have herein disclosed and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and re-arrangement-of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the supporting and gui-de tubes 10 and 24 may be utilized in a reverse relation, with the guide tube telescoped over the upstanding tu-be 10, with the clamping means associated with a lower split end of the guide tube 24, and with the reverse arrangement of the auxiliary locking member which will cooperate with apertures formed in the upstanding tube on the base. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. A chair construction comprising a base having an upstanding supporting tube, a seat, a depending guide tube connected at its upper end to the underside of the seat, said tubes being dimensioned for and telescopically fitted one within the other, the free end portion of the outer tube being formed with an open ended longitudinally extending slot, a split friction Iband surrounding the slotted portion of the outer tube, and clamping means associated with the ends of the friction =band for causing said band to squeeze said slotted portion of the outer tube into firm gripping relation to the inner tube with said tubes in a predetermined position of telescopic adjustment for rmly supporting said seat at a desired height relative to said base, the free ends of said friction band terminating in a pair of spaced ears, said clamping means comprising a handle having a threaded stem for extending through aligned apertures insaid ears and a shoulder for abutting the outer surface of one of said ears vand a nut threaded on the free end of said stem for abutting the outer surface of the other ear, sai-d nut being formed with a surface adapted to impinge against said band to preclude turning of the nut incident to rotation of the handle and stem.

2. A chair construction including a supporting structure for a seat composed essentially of metal tubing comprising a base having an upstanding supporting tube, a plurality of tubular legs rigidly secured at their upper ends directly to the exterior of the lower portion of said supporting tube, a seat, a depending guide tube connected at its upper end to the underside of the seat, said tubes being dimensioned for and telescopically tted one within the other, the free end portion of the outer tube being formed with an open ended longitudinally extending slot, a split friction band surrounding the slotted portion of the outer tube, and clamping means associated with the ends of the friction band for causing said band to squeeze said slotted portion of the outer tube into firm gripping relation to the inner tube with said tubes in a predeter- -mined position of telescopic adjustment for rmly supporting said seat at a desired height relative to said base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,526 10/1921 Amsden 108-141 X 1,795,747 3/1931 Viken 248-411 2,560,109 7/1951 Hines 248-407 2,605,987 8/1952 Brown et al. 248-408 2,638,302 5/1953 Reed 248-354 2,710,207 6/1955 Mueller 248-411 X 2,716,440 8/ 1955 Silverman 297-172 3,086,741 4/1963 Cramer 24S-188.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,644 1889 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner. 

1. A CHAIR CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A BASE HAVING AN UPSTANDING SUPPORTING TUBE, A SEAT, A DEPENDING GUIDE TUBE CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SAID TUBES BEING DIMENSIONED FOR AND TELESCOPICALLY FITTED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER, THE FREE END PORTION OF THE OUTER TUBE BEING FORMED WITH AN OPEN ENDED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT, A SPLIT FRICTION BAND SURROUNDING THE SLOTTED PORTION OF THE OUTER TUBE, AND CLAMPING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENDS OF THE FRICTION BAND FOR CAUSING SAID BAND TO SQUEEZE SAID SLOTTED PORTION OF THE OUTER TUBE INTO FIRM GRIPPING RELATION TO THE INNER TUBE WITH SAID TUBES IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION OF TELESCOPIC-ADJUSTMENT FOR FIRMLY SUPPORTING SAID SEAT AT A DESIRED HEIGHT RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FRICTION BAND TERMINATING IN A PAIR OF SPACED EARS, SAID CLAMPING MEANS COMPRISING A HANDLE HAVING A THREADED STEM FOR EXTENDING THROUGH ALIGNED APERTURES IN SAID EARS AND A SHOULDER FOR ABUTTING THE OUTER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID EARS AND A NUT THREADED ON THE FREE END OF SAID STEM FOR ABUTTING THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE OTHER EAR, SAID NUT BEING FORMED WITH A SURFACE ADAPTED TO IMPINGE AGAINST SAID BAND TO PRECLUDE TURNING OF THE NUT INCIDENT TO ROTATION OF THE HANDLE AND STEM. 